Stock-feeder.



Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

j. k. IVIcCORIVIICK.

I STOCK FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-W119i].

m m I I W 1 9w AA .I I 5% m m gm ,5. x K E 5 5 7 r 4 m 2 I M I6 3 M L Z M R H w 3 K 6 1 4 m m Q N E F 4 L 3 3 5 W I 0/90, d N o W x o f .1 6 z A// l K (j a 1% 1F Q j K \H m JOSEPH K. MICCORMICK, OF UNION COUNTY, INDIANA.

STOCK-FEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. it), 1911?.

Application filed January 15, 1917. Serial No. 142,420.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn: K. McCon- MICK, a citizen of the United States, residing in Union county, Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stock- Feeders, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to stock feeders of the class adapted for use in the feeding of swine or ether domestic animals, and the objects of my improvements are to provide means for automatically discharging the feed from the bin in any desired quantities to prevent it from becoming wasted or contaminated by the animal; to provide means for agitating the contents of both the bin and the feeding device to prevent it from becoming arched and for facilitating its dis charge; to provide a removable force feeding device adapted to feed of certain consistencies; to provide means for changing the movement of the feeding spouts for controlling the amount of feed to be de liver-ed thereby to correspond with its con sistency, and to provide simple and durable construction and assemblage of the various parts for securing facility of operation and efficiency of action. These and other evident objects may be attained in the following described manner as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are respective longitudinal and transv rse sections of the bin with portions removed and provided with my improved feeding device; Fig. 3 a front elevation with parts in section of a pair of feeding devices in opposite positions of adjustment, and Fig. 4t an end elevation with parts in transverse section.

In the drawings, 1 represents the bin of any desired length and capacity and preferably formed with a plurality of apartments 2 each having a hopper bottom which terminates in a rectangular opening 3 and whereon the rectangular metal frame 4 is secured. The floor 5 serves to support the vertical wall 6 which bisects the opening in the hopper and the metal frame and is formed with a semicircular recess 7 in its top edge directly under the frame. A shaft 8 extends across the middle portion of the frame f and is prevented from turning by means of the pin or bolt 9. A pair of similar cylinders 11 are journaled on said shaft to turn freely within the frame and are each formed with an inlet opening 12 in their top portion and with a depending leg 13 which terminates near the floor. The

. opposite ends of the cylinders are closed and the adjacent ends are open and formed with a spider bearing 14. The hollow legs or spouts 13 are preferably rectangular in cross section and formed with downwardly divergent walls for facilitating the descent of the feed therethrough and they depend on respective opposite sides of the vertical wall as shown in Figs. 2 and t and are independently movable with the corresponding cylinder to the extent permitted by the pins 15 which may be secured in either of the plurality of holes 16 formed in the vertical wall. Vertical bars 17 may be secured on the shaft 8 and rods 18 pivotally secured on their lower end depend within the corresponding spout to serve as agitators to facilitate the descent of the feed therethrough.

A force feeder 21 in the form of a pinion with preferably coarse pitch teeth may be loosely journaled within the lower end of each spout by means of the pin 22 being extended through the slots 23 formed in the front and rear walls thereof. Said pinion is free to move vertically to the extent permitted by the pin in the slots and is rotated by its contact with the floor during the lateral movements of the spouts and its use is in tended only for feed of a certain consistency which would pass through the spout too freely.

The cylinders and spouts are formed heavy of metal that they may gravitate to the central vertical position as shown in Fig. 1. The edges of the inlet openings in the cylinders cooperate with the vertical bars for agitating the contents of the bin and facilitating its entrance to the interior of the cylinders.

In operation, the animal. swings the corresponding' spout laterally in either of opposite directions from the vertical position which moves the end of the spout farther above the floor and permits a small portion of the feed to spill thereon which after being devoured may be repeated as often as neces sary until the animals appetite is satisfied.

Having fully described my improvements, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A stock feeder comprising a container supported at a fixed elevation and formed with a discharge opening, a hollow feeder formed with 21 depending spout and journaled to oscillate within said opening, and an agitator movably secured at a fixed point and depending within the spout.

2. A stock feeder comprising a bin formed with a hopper bottom terminating in a rectangular frame, a pair of similar cylinders journaled to turn freely and independently within the frame and in axial alinement, each of said cylinders being formed with a depending spout of gradually increasing size and with an inlet opening in its top wall. in communication with the interior of the bin, and adjustable means for limiting the movement of the spouts with the cylinders.

3. A stock feeder comprising a rectangular frame supported at a fixed elevation, a hollow cylindrical feeder journaled to turn freely therein and formed with an inlet opening and with a depending spout of gradually increasing size, and an agitator pixotally secured at a fixed point and depending within the spout.

4. A stock feeder comprising a rectangular frame support at a fixed elevation, a hollow cylindrical feeder ournaled to turn therein and formed with a top inlet opening and with a depending spout, and a force feeder in the form of a pinion removably journaled within the lower end of the spout and movable vertically therein.

5. A stock feeder comprising a floor, a bin supported thereover and formed with a discharge opening, similar cylindrical feeders journaled' to oscillate independently within said opening, each formed with a depending spout terminating near the floor, and ad justable means for limiting the movements of the respective spouts and feeders.

JOSEPH K. MGGQRMICK.

Witnesses NANNAN L. ARMIsTEAD, R. S. CARR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

